"It's okay, you can keep it for yourself. In winter, this thing can be kept for a long time, and it won't go bad if you eat it slowly." Aunt Dahua refused.
"It's the Chinese New Year, and I want to eat something else. Let's eat this together. Auntie, just do me a favor and share some of the burden." Fang Nuo said, looking at Aunt Dahua pretending to be pitiful.
The big-flowered aunt felt soft-hearted at first, but finally agreed.
After agreeing, I felt in my heart that I shouldn't and that I was taking advantage of Ren Xiaonuo.
I was thinking about preparing more dishes during the Chinese New Year, giving some to Xiao Nuo then, and adding a few more dishes on the Chinese New Year day.
After thinking about it this way, I felt better.
"By the way, Xiao Nuo, the village organized people to lower the nets this afternoon, and the nets will be collected tomorrow morning. If you want fish, remember to change them then," said Aunt Dahua.
"Okay, I know Auntie, I will definitely go then." When Fang Nuo thought of fish, various ways of eating fish appeared in his mind.
Then she would see if she could buy more. If she could, she would buy some and make them into smoked fish.
In this way, after the New Year, there will be fish to eat.
Otherwise, the village would organize a fishing trip once a year to return the money to the villagers. She would prepare some extra fish and eat them from the space later, so she could explain it to others if they saw her.
After finishing the Laba porridge, Aunt Dahua thought she had something to do at home, so she got up and said she was going back.
Fang Nuo took her big bowl and basket to the kitchen, scooped out a clay pot of Laba porridge for her and put it in the basket.
The big bowl that Aunt Dahua brought was cleaned, and it was placed upside down on the mouth of the pottery pot, then it was taken out and sent to the entrance of the courtyard.
"Okay, you go back to the house quickly, it's very cold outside," Aunt Dahua said
"Okay, aunt, please walk slower. I'll see you tomorrow," Fang Nuo said.
"Well, I'll go back first," Aunt Dahua said, then turned around and left with her things.
Fang Nuo waited until she was far away, then closed the courtyard door, locked the door and returned to the house.
She got up early the next day and heated up a bowl of the leftover Laba porridge from yesterday for breakfast. The Laba porridge was paired with some pickles she picked herself, which gave it a different taste.
After breakfast, I made a bottle of milk for Yaya and put it in my inner pocket to keep it warm for a while.
Then he wrapped Yaya on her back and covered her with a long towel, then took two baskets and went out to the river in the village.
Before reaching the river, I heard the cheers of the villagers as they raised the net, and the captain's call for everyone to work harder.
She followed the sound and saw a group of people standing by the river. There were more than a dozen people on the river, all of them pulling fishing nets out of the water.
Fang Nuo walked into the crowd and found Aunt Dahua.
"Auntie, what's wrong?" she asked
"Xiao Nuo is here. It's just the beginning, but there are a lot of fish. We have to wait for a while until all the next nets are hoisted before we start queuing up to change the fish," said Aunt Dahua.
"Is that so? I'm afraid I'll be late," Fang Nuo said.
"No, you're already here early. Many people in the village haven't arrived yet. You should be more careful and stand further away from the river in case someone accidentally pushes you. After all, you are still carrying Yaya on your back. , be careful," Aunt Dahua warned.
"I know Auntie, I will be more careful," Fang Nuo replied with a smile knowing that she was doing it for her own good.
The two of them stood for a while. Seeing more and more people around them, Aunt Dahua took her out a little further and stood outside the crowd and waited for a while.
Fang Nuo didn't expect to meet Shen Gongqi today. It seemed like the last time he saw this man was a few months ago.
The last time a pig was killed in the village, she didn't see anyone coming out.
She just looked at the man for more than ten seconds. Unexpectedly, Shen Gongqi turned around and looked at him, and their eyes met.
Fang Nuo thought that this person had also bought something from her, and that they had taken the train together before, and it was difficult to pass without saying hello, so he nodded to each other.
When Shen Gongqi saw her nodding, he nodded back, and then both of them turned their heads and looked elsewhere.
It wasn't that the two didn't say hello, it was mainly because Fang Nuo's identity was very embarrassing.
There was a lot of controversy at the widow's door, and she didn't want to have someone gossip about her just by saying a few words.
So she rarely goes out. Not only does she not like talking to people, but she is also afraid of trouble.
After waiting for a while, the net over there was finally finished. Fang Nuo and the others waited for a while again. All the fish over there were put into pots and carried ashore by the strong men. After a while, the captain came over and greeted them. Everyone queues up to exchange fish.
Fish is much cheaper than pork, only 15 cents per pound.
Fang Nuo and Aunt Dahua were waiting in line. Aunt Dahua said, "This year's fish is pretty good. My family is going to buy another twenty kilograms, so it can be used as a dish during the Chinese New Year."
"Auntie, aren't you going to make some smoked fish?" Fang Nuo asked.
"What kind of smoked fish? No one here makes it," Aunt Dahua said
"Actually, it's just like bacon. It can be stored for a long time and can be eaten until next spring," Fang Nuo said.
"Like this, Xiao Nuo, can you do it?" Aunt Dahua asked
Fang Nuo nodded.
Aunt Dahua asked again: "Then I will buy more. Then Xiaonuo, you can teach me, and I will also get some. When they are planted next spring, they can also be stewed to supplement the men at home."
"Okay, I'll get the marinade then, and my aunt will take it back and apply it on the fish. After marinating it for one night, it can be stretched out with bamboo strips, tied with a rope and hung on the kitchen beam. When the fire is lit, it will smoke. Smoke it and take it off when you eat it," Fang Nuo said.
"Okay, tell me what seasonings you will use then, and I will send them to you," Aunt Dahua said.
"good"
After a while, the two of them arrived in line. Fang Nuo chose ten big fish, which weighed eighty-three pounds, totaling 12 yuan, 4 cents and 5 cents.
Fang Nuo looked at some small fish and shrimps that he had picked out, and asked, "Uncle Captain, how did you replace these?"
"Fang Zhiqing wants this? It doesn't have much meat. If you really want it, give me two yuan and I'll give it to you." The captain looked at the basin and saw that there wasn't much in the basin, so Fang Nuo only bought the fish. Said more.
The accountants also have no objection to this. If this thing cannot be sold, they would have spent their own money to bring it back in previous years.
Not to mention that this thing is small, it takes time to clean, and it doesn’t have much meat.
Now that some people are buying it, they are eager for others to buy it back.
When Fang Nuo heard that it was OK, he took out another two dollars and handed it over.
Those small fish and shrimps weighed seven to eight kilograms, plus dozens of kilograms of fish. Fang Nuo couldn't finish them all at once, so he felt a little worried.
After a while, Shen Gongqi, who was lined up behind her, also had three big fish. He came over and looked at the small pile of fish in front of her and said, "Does Fang Zhiqing need help?"
"It's Comrade Shen. I really need help. Can you help me?" Fang Nuo said, looking at the arm on the man's hand.
She has not forgotten why this man was discharged from the army. He must not be fully recovered now. She also wants to find someone to help her, but she is afraid that if he helps her for a while, all the old injuries will relapse, so it is not worth it. .
